Part II of the study on Commissioned Ruling Elders, commissioned by the Office of Ordered Ministries and Certification in partnership with COTE, involves a close look at the variety of Commissioned Ruling Elders education programs offered by presbyteries, seminaries, colleges and others. The second part of the study was produced by the Center for the Study of Theological Education at Auburn Seminary.

Presbyterian General Assemblies have been speaking on issues of environmental protection and justice since the late 1960s. Their witness ranges broadly from drinking water safety and acid rain, to protecting endangered species, to cleaning up dirty power plants, to climate change and U.S. energy policy. The Assemblies’ major policy statements on environment were in 1971 and 1990, and on energy in 1981.

Our common baptism, which unites us to Christ in faith, is thus a basic bond of unity.... Therefore, our one baptism into Christ constitutes a call to the churches to overcome their divisions and visibly manifest their fellowship,

Christians live among people groundcd in other religions and ideologies, or in none. If our immediate circle of neighbors or friends does nor reveal the religious plurality of the world, we need look no further than our cities, our nation, and our globally-connected world to see the diverse religious traditions which increasingly intermingle there. In this environment, persons and communities affect one another even when they are unaware of doin g so.

Presbyterian Study Grant (PSG) is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s financial aid program for students preparing to lead and serve as a minister or Christian Educator. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) theological grant program includes Presbyterian Study Grant, and supplemental grants intended to promote diversity.